Daily Herald story It would be nice IF SXM ever gets the Dutch aid, if they could start a similar deal in SXM. It would be great to not have to worry about those GEBE diesel generators breaking every other day..

So funny Carol. Would be nice huh? I asked about this when we bought our place in 1998. I was laughed out of the Yacht Club. We were not allowed. Now I do know residents who have them. Heats water for laundry etc.
Congrats to Statia!
irina

Wasn't there something ridiculous a while back about the Westin getting fined by the government for having their own generator running and bypassing GEBE for more than necessary?

GEBE is a scam! They prevent solar and wind power companies.

Would be interesting to see the cost savings to Statia. Wonder if their individual bills will go down to reflect the solar use and 50% less diesel generated electricity use.??

GEBE is not a scam and having Solar Hart system will cut back big time on electric cost. We will start with our pool system after we finish with the other work that we have to do.

One of our SXM friends has a Solar Hart water heater which they say is nice but only problem is they are not cheap. I think about $3000 plus everything they have a hurricane the panels fly's off the roof even after they tied it down. That can buy a lot of electric water heaters or Electricity. But is nice if you can afford.

Yes the initial installment payment is expensive , that's why we are thinking about it .

We have had solar power for years. Had to repair it a number of times due to leaks... The hurricane blue the panals away. We will not buy a new one. Will get a water heater. We are only there 3 monthes out of the year, does not pay to spend the money to replace... Yes they are very expensive...

Yes , it's a tough decision to make.

I'm sorry, but when you are penalized for creating your own electricity, there is a problem!

http://www.dutchcaribbeanlegalportal.com...ectricity-bills

"GEBE claimed The Westin had generated electricity illegally, as this was against the National Ordinance Electricity Concessions. This had led to the electricity company losing income and profit, damages for which The Westin was to be held liable."

I do understand being told to pay for the meter reading error and past due bills though.

I'm sorry, but I will disagree with you on that. Our GEBE bills went up through the roof exactly one month before Irma and two months after Irma.. even though we didn't have the electricity and water, we still paid much more than usual.

My friend also got charged $1000 us for August and Sept water and electric and had no water and electric after Sept 5. Lives in Saunders.
GeBe is a scam!
irina

Agree..... We are on Island only 3 monthes a year, and the utility bills are very high... Got a big bill before and after Irma, and there was no power for a period of time... they are getting away with much cheating, have for years... Try to fight them and get nowhere...